Valentine’s Day

The realms of science fiction and comics may be home to some of the most fantastic space battles, epic team-ups and heartbreaking deaths in entertainment. But as any Whovian, Trekkie or Marvel fan can tell you, the world of geek is also a world of lovey-dovey romance. And what better time than Valentine’s Day to celebrate the softer side of the genres that are typically dominated by alien invasions, lightsaber fights and spell wars? From “Star Wars” to “Spider-Man,” from “The Lord of the Rings” to “Harry Potter,” Hero Complex pays tribute to some of the cutest couples in genre entertainment. GIFT GUIDE: Valentine’s Day ideas for the geek in your life Click through the gallery above for a look at some of the most memorable romances on the silver screen, the small screen and the pages of comics. Did we […]

If your Valentine’s idea of a perfect date includes a trip to your local comic shop, a sci-fi movie marathon or an all-night game tournament, Hero Complex’s annual Valentine’s Day gift guide has you covered. This year’s guide, introduced earlier this month, includes a wide range of geek-friendly selections from the worlds of horror, comics, science-fiction and more. If your honey would rather be in Westeros, perhaps toast your love with “Game of Thrones” sigil wine glasses. If your darling inspires visions of demigods, a bottle of Thor cologne will leave him smelling as bold and musky as the hammer-wielding hero. And if your “Star Wars”-loving sweetie gets the shivers, bundle her up in a tauntaun hoodie, complete with lightsaber zipper pull. Other selections in the Hero Complex Valentine’s Day gift guide include several sexy comic book titles, some “Doctor Who”-themed apparel, […]

If you find yourself among the lovelorn this Valentine’s Day, Liz Prince’s graphic novel “Alone Forever: The Singles Collection” might prove a perfect remedy. “Alone Forever,” out this month from Top Shelf Productions, collects 104 pages of Prince’s autobiographical comic strip — a self-deprecating look at relationships, love and the lack thereof. The Boston-based comics creator chronicles her experiences with online dating, awkward first encounters and (questionably) flirty interactions with bearded strangers, not to mention tender moments with her constant true loves — her cats and her punk rock music. Prince, whose previous titles include the Ignatz Award-winning “Will You Still Love Me If I Wet The Bed?” and “Delayed Replays,” will be in the Los Angeles area on Sunday for L.A. Zine Fest at Helms Bakery in Culver City. Hero Complex: How did this project come about? I understand […]

Do you and your Valentine put Clark Kent and Lois Lane to shame? Or is your greatest love a platonic one, like Sherlock and Watson or Finn and Jake? Whether your loved one is a gamer, a Whovian or a comics aficionado, the Hero Complex Valentine’s Day gift guide has you covered. Click through the gallery above and check out the list below for our selection of the best geeky Valentine’s Day gift ideas, sure to make your sci-fi-loving soul mate swoon. Under $25 “The Adventures of Apocalypse Al,” $2.99 per issue: J. Michael Straczynski’s new Joe’s Comics title follows plucky redhead Allison Carter, a resourceful private investigator tasked with saving the world from all manner of supernatural threats — zombies, imps, wizards, closet trolls and even undead ex-boyfriends, all while dispensing wisecracks with deadpan aplomb. If that winning combination […]

It’s Valentine’s Day and nothing says “I love you” like an image of a planetary nebula that looks like a gaseous rose glowing in outer space. The planetary nebula Sh2-174, pictured in the color composite image above, is a star in the process of losing is its outer layers at the end of its life. This phase usually lasts for 10,000 years before it fades out, leaving only the core of the star, known as the white dwarf, behind. Although 10,000 years may seem like a long time to us, for a star that might have a lifespan of 10 billion years, the planetary nebula stage is just a blip. ASTEROID: When and where to watch it online Sh2-174 is a bit unusual because the white dwarf is not in the center of the planetary nebula where you would expect it to […]

Is your valentine a Time Lord, Jedi or Starfleet captain? Do you spend date nights rolling dice or mashing controller buttons? Are your love notes written in binary or Klingon? We’ve got you covered for Valentine’s Day. Click through the gallery above and check out the list below for our selection of gifts that are sure to say, “I love you,” whether your sweetheart speaks Dwarvish or Dothraki. Brain and heart pop candy molds, $3.69 each Ah, zombie love. What could be more romantic than sharing a brain lollipop with your undead sweetie? What better way to bare your heart than with an anatomical heart sucker? (Confectionery House) Zombie collection lip balm, $5 each Your horror-loving honey will love these classic lip balm tins, featuring posters and book covers from “I Bury the Living,” “I Married a Dead Man,” “The […]

Homer Simpson, Han Solo and Swamp Thing may not look like royalty but look closer and you’ll see that each of them is a king of hearts. It’s Valentine’s Day and that has us thinking about the nature of love and we realized that of all the great romances depicted in pop culture, some of the most interesting and inspiring are in the fanboy/fangirl sector, the geek zone of sci-fi, fantasy, superheroes and horror. Okay, not all of them look like Bogie or Bacall (yes, Karloff, we’re looking at you, kid) but in the photo gallery above you’ll see proof that beauty isn’t skin deep (or fur-deep, for that matter) and that the human heart cannot be denied even if happens to be in love with an alien with pointy ears. Be sure to click the “SHOW CAPTIONS” option on the gallery. And love long […]

Do you and your Valentine whisper your sweet nothings in Klingon? Are your lovers’ quarrels over the Millennium Falcon vs. Serenity? When you dress up for dates, are you both wearing capes? If so, then the Hero Complex Valentine’s Gift Guide is for you (and your comics-loving cutie). Flip through the image gallery above for a peek at the best geeky Valentine’s Day gift ideas (be sure to click the “CAPTIONS ON” option). Below, you’ll find the same gift suggestions listed with handy links to help you get your shopping done at light speed. “Young Romance: The Best of Simon & Kirby’s Romance Comics,” $29.99 The creators of Captain America also helped create a softer comics genre: romance comics. In the late ’40s and ’50s, Joe Simon and Jack Kirby captivated girls and women with their “Young Romance” tales of […]